Card game apparatus



Oct. 20, 1953 psc z 2,655,736

CARD GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 194? 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hi l 4!: 1 1.!

1g BY A TORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 J. LlPSCHlTZ CARD GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1947 Oct. 20, 1953 sc 1'z 2,655,736

' CARD GAME APPARATUS v Filed Sept. 5, 194? 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 Q m L 7 A M5 6 5 QWYQQQWEQW ,1 WW? Wm AAAAAAAAAAAAA "EAAAAAAAAAAAA IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARD GAME APPARATUS Joseph Lipschitz, Hillside, N. J. Application September 5, 1947, Serial No. 772,397

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus which may be used in playing or practicing the game of bridge or other card games, so that, for example, a problem in bridge can be worked out in the proper way as would be done by an expert.

One object of the invention is to provide game apparatus of this character which shall include novel and improved means whereby the user of the apparatus can compare his method of play with a predetermined or expert method of play.

Another object is to provide such a game which can be used or played by either four persons or by one person alone.

A further object is to provide a card game apparatus which shall include a novel and improved construction and combination of game pieces representing cards, and a board or other support in which the game pieces can be arranged in only the proper order for a predetermined game or method of play.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a composite top plan view of a game board and four holders for game pieces;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the game board with the two sections thereof swung apart to permit the insertion of guide sheets between and removal thereof from the two sections, and also illustrating one side of one of the guide sheets;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the other side of the guide sheet shown in Figure 2;

Figure e is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, approximately on the plane of the line i l of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view, approximately on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar View, approximately on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, on the plane of the line 'l'l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a composite diagrammatic View of the set of game pieces;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through one of the game piece holders, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary composite plan View of modified game pieces.

Specifically describing the invention, the reference character A designates a game board or other suitable support which may be formed of any suitable material, such as cardboard, metal or plastic composition, and is preferably square in plan view. As shown, the board comprises superposed bottom and top sections l and 2, respectively, that preferably are hinged together at 3. The top section 2 is formed along each edge portion thereof with a series of thirteen openings 4, each facing upwardly through the top surface of the board to receive a game piece 5. As shown, each opening of each series is of different shape and size from all of the other openings of the series, but each opening of one series is of substantially the same shape and size as the corresponding opening of all of the other series.

" As shown, each game piece is in the form of a small polygonal plate of any suitable material, of the same size and shape as one of the openings 4, and has indicia 6 representing one of the cards of a pack. Also, each game piece has a knob 1 for conveniently handling it. The game pieces represent conventional playing cards having the usual diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades symbols constituting the four suits, the game pieces having the usual numeral and letter sequential indicia, such as A, 2, 3, etc.

The game pieces for each suit of cards are shaped according to the openings 4 of each series, as best shown in Figure 8, but the sequence is different for each suit. For example, in the diamonds suit, the ace corresponds to the first or left-hand opening 4 of each series, facing the series from the corresponding edge of the game board; in the spades suit, the deuce of spades corresponds to said first opening, while in the hearts and clubs suits, the 3 and 4, respectively, correspond to said first opening of the corresponding series. More particularly, in the diamonds suit, the sequence is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, '7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, while in the spades suit, the sequence is deuce, ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, all as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, from which the sequence of the game pieces of the other two suits will be evident.

Each opening 4 has rabbeted guideways 8 on its longitudinal side walls which open through the upper surface of the top section 2 of the game board, and also at their inner ends extend inwardly, as indicated at 9, beneath an overhanging portion or ledge ID on the section 2, so that a game piece may be set on the rabbeted guideways 8 in fully exposed position to close the opening, as shown in Figure 4, and at positions X in Figure 1, or may be partially slid under the overhanging portion It so as to conceal the indicia 6 and to partially open the opening, as-

shown in Figure 6 and at positions Y in Figure 1. Each game piece is thus reciprocable across the corresponding opening to close the opening upon movement in one direction and to open the opening upon movement in the other direction.

Also, there is provided for each player a game piece holder B which may be formed of any suitable material, and includes a main strip II formed with legs I2 for supporting it in vertical ly inclined position, asshown in Figure'9, and having its lower edge returned over and in spaced relation to the main portion, as indicated at I3}.- so that the game pieces 5 may be inserted be-,v tween the main strip and the returned portion and thus held in easily visible position; forthe.

player. Desirably, the edge of. the returned. flange I3 has notches 14 to receive the knobs I to quickly position the game piece in conveniently;

spaced relation.

For guiding the players in their method of play, I provide a rectangular guide sheet I5 having a series of numbers I6 along each edge thereof, each series corresponding to one of the series of openings 4, and the reverse side of said sheet or one side of another sheet has a row of indicia .I 7 along each edge thereof corresponding to the game pieces held by the respective players as the result of -a deaLsaid indicia being arranged according to a predetermined problem or card game. The numbers I6 represent the plays or order in which the cards should be played by the respective players, and they correspond to the indicia. I'I- More particularly, the number 1 on the lower edge of the sheet I5 shown in Figure 3 corresponds to the ace-of diamonds indicia I I at the lower edge of thesheet on Figure 2, while the number 1 on theleft-hand side of the sheet in Figure 3 corresponds to the indicia for the queen of hearts on the left-hand sideof the sheet in Figure 2. Similarly, the number 11 on the lower edgeof the sheet in Figure 3 corresponds to the five of spades indicia onv the lower edge of the sheet in Figure 2, and so on.

The top section 2 also has slots. I B and I9 through which indicia 20 and 2| on the sheet I5 are exposed to indicate the dealer and the vulnerable side, and the top of the board has indica 22 to indicate the various players or hands,.such as East, North, South and West.

To indicate the proper bids, the top section 2 also has a slot 25 corresponding to each series of openings 4 or every player's position,. through,

whichare exposed indicia 26 representing various bids which are arranged in the order of a predetermined problem or game corresponding to the arrangement of the indicia I? on the sheetrl5. Each slot has rabbeted longitudinal side walls 2'! in which are slidably seated a plurality of plates 28, one to cover each of the spaces occupied by the respective indicia 26, and the length of each slot is greater by the length of one platethan the aggregate of the length of all of the plates, as best shown inFigure 1.

It will be understood by those skilled in the-art that the indicia I6 and I! will be arrangedin a predetermined manner on the sheet I5 .105 an expert whowill be careful to select the playing indicia for each hand or player so that corresponding game pieces of the set shown in Figure 8 will fit in one of the holes I in the game board for said hand. In using the apparatus, the sheet I5 will first be inserted between the bottom and top sections I and 2 with the card symbol indicia. I1 exposed through'therespective openings. Thenflthe game pieces 4 will be arranged in the corresponding openings, the game pieces having the ace of spades indicia being placed in the opening through which is exposed the ace of spades indicia on the sheet I5, and so on, until a game piece has been placed in each of the thirteen openings of each series of openings 4. The object of placing the game pieces in the openings as shown is to set up the hands or the cards held by the respective players correctly for the solution of the particular problem.

If four persons are to play, the game pieces are then removed from the openings 4 and set, preferably at random, in the respective holders or racks Bi Thereupon, the sheet I5 is reversed so thattheindicia I6 are exposed through the openings 4, as shown in Figure 1.

In-playing;the players note through the slot I8 that :South is the dealer who then slides the right-hand bidding plate 28 to the right so that the correct bid ,for this particular problem is exposed in the slot. After, the bid is completed, West leads with the first game piece because South is the dealer. In order to play correctly, "West must place the correctly fitting game piece from his rack B into the opening 4 through which the number 1 appears on the game board. Should it be attempted to place the wrong game piece in the number 1 opening for the first play, the piece will not fit in the opening properly and West will know that he has made the wrong play. He continues to try the game pieces, at the same time attempting to decide from the symbolwhich is the right game piece to play, and when the proper game piece is found. it will fit into the opening "1 and indicate that the right play has been made. The North, East and South players will follow the same method of play.

After the players have played out the first trick from West, North, East and South, they will slide their game pieces toward the center of the board, as shownat positions Y on Figure l and inFigure 6, so that the indicia 6 on the game pieces will be concealed, after which the players must remember what pieces have been played.

The player who won the first trick will then look for the opening 4 of his series of openings where the number 2 appears, and must use the same method as above described for locating the proper game piece for said opening. The remainder of the second trick and the succeeding plays will, be made in the same general manner.

Where one person desires to use the apparatus, the: ame pieces are initially arranged in the proper openings ,4, asv hereinbefore described, but are not removed into the. racks B. The guide sheet I 5 is arranged so that its numeral indicia It will be exposed through the openings dwhen the game pieces are pushed inwardly, as shown at positions Y on Figure 1. Thereupon,.the player will slide the South, West, North and East bidding plates28 for thercorrect bid, andfinds that West leads, as hereinbefore mentioned. He then views the thirteen gamepieces in the openings in the West series of openings 4 and slides the one he thinks is the proper one inwardly beneath the ledge Ill to expose the numeral indicia I6 through the corresponding opening. If the number I appears, he knows that he has played the right game piece, but if any other number appears he knows that the wrong game piece hasv been played. Therefore, he will continue sliding the game pieces until he finds the one corresponding to the number I; and whenthis is found, he will leave thegame piece. slid inwardly beneath the ledge H] with the indicia concealed, as shown at positions Y on Figure 1 and in Figure 6. After the first trick has been completed, he will slide the game pieces, looking for the number 2 in each series of openings 4 on the board, repeating the procedure above described until the game piece corresponding to the number 2 has been found. Then he will continue using the same method for the remaining plays or tricks. In this way, a player may compare his own method of play with the predetermined proper method that is represented by the guide sheet 15.

Instead of having the openings 4 shaped as shown in Figure 1, that is, approximately rectangular with one side slightly inclined, as indicated at Z, the openings may be of various other shapes. For example, as indicated in Figure 10, each game piece may have a lug 29 at one end which is in a slightly different relation to said end than the corresponding lugs of the other game pieces of the same suit or series and each opening 4 of each series will correspond in shape to one of said game pieces. If desired, instead of making the lugs 29 at different positions, they may be of difierent sizes or of different shapes, and other variations will occur to those skilled in the art.

Moreover, when it is desired to adapt the invention solely for use by one person, in the manner hereinbefore described, all of the holes 4 for all of the hands may be of the same size and shape.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in certain details of construction, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the now preferred embodiments of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the structure of the card game apparatus within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, there has been no attempt to accurately lay out the solution of any particular problem or game, the arrangement of the indicia l6 and I1 and of the game pieces in Figure 1 being arbitrary and a general illustration of the principles underlying the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A game apparatus including a board having a series of openings facing upwardly through the top surface of the board, a game piece reciprocable across each opening and having playing indicia on a portion thereof, a sheet beneath said board having an indicium thereon in register with each opening to indicate the order of play of the corresponding game piece, said board having means adjacent each opening beneath and from under which the corresponding game piece may be slid upon movement of the game pieces in opposite directions to conceal and to expose said playing indicia respectively, said game-pieces and said openings being of such relative sizes that said order-of-play indicia are exposed and concealed by the corresponding game-pieces at the same time the playing indicia are concealed and exposed respectively.

2. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each game piece comprises a small polygonal plate and two opposite walls of each of said openings have rabbeted guide ways to slidably receive the corresponding game piece, and said means on said board comprises portions overhanging said guide ways at one end so that said game pieces can be slid in said guide ways to move the portions thereof that carry said playing indicia beneath and from under said overhanging portions of the board.

3. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said openings are of difierent size and shape and each game piece is removably mounted in and of a size and shape corresponding to one of said openings to normally completely close the opening and conceal the corresponding orderof-play indicium.

4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet has on one side thereof an indicium corresponding to the playing indicium of each of said game pieces to be disposed in register with one of said openings, and each of said order-of-play indicia is disposed on the other side of the sheet, whereby said sheet initially may be placed beneath said board with said playing indicia exposed through the respective openings to serve as a guide for placing the game pieces in the openings through which corresponding playing indicia are exposed, and then said sheet may be reversed to place the order-of-play indicia in register with the respective openings.

5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each game piece comprises a small polygonal plate, and two opposite walls of each of said openings have rabbeted guideways opening through the upper surface of said board to slidably receive the corresponding game piece and to permit the game piece to be freely and at will set in or lifted from said guideway.

6. Game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said board has four series of openings one for each player or hand, a set of game pieces comprising four series, the game pieces in each of which correspond in number to the openings in one of said series, each game piece having difierent playing indicia, said sheet having an indicium in register with each of said openings to indicate the sequence of play of the corresponding game pieces as determined by experts, and with the addition of bidding indications spaced in a row for each hand and wherein said board has a slot in register with said row of bidding indications in each hand, and a plurality of separate cover plates in each of said slots, each to normally overlie and conceal one of said bidding indications, each slot being of a length greater by the length of one plate than the aggregate of the length of all of the plates and said plates being slidable longitudinally of said row of bidding indications separately and in succession to expose said indications in the order of bidding,

JOSEPH LIPSCHITZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 711,240 Zaring Oct. 14, 1902 1,726,115 Mugler Apr. 27, 1929 1,989,599 Lipschitz et a1. Jan. 29, 1935 1,996,151 Gordon Apr. 2, 1935 3,038,734 Hardy Apr. 28, 1936 2,096,672 Goodson Oct. 19, 1937 2,193,745 Sterne Mar. 12, 1940 2,347,094 Fernandez Apr. 18, 1944 2,384,539 Eppley Sept. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 516,695 Great Britain Jan. 9, 1940 

